Sunday Reading for March 9, 2025 (The One Less Hour of Sleep Edition)

1. Top 10 Most Beautiful Pens (via Figboot on Pens). David walks through his collection after having picked 10 of the best-looking pens in his collection. This is a fun exercise and has me wondering whether I should do the same.

2. Leveling Up with Tea (via Olive Octopus). I’ve always been much more of a black coffee/espresso fanatic, but I found this post on tea fascinating. I need to experiment more.

3. Paper Plant Co. Shop Visit (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I love eclectic stationery stores, especially when they manage to work in complementary products other than stationery. Add this one to the list next time I’m in Los Angeles.

4. London Spring Pen Show 2025: My Haul (via Fountain Pen Blog). One of these days, I will make it to one of the London Pen Shows. This is a fun haul post.

5. Spring 2025 London Pen Show (via Dapprman). More pictures from London!

6. London Spring Pen Show 2025 (via UK Fountain Pens). An interesting aspect of the UK shows is timing. Most of these shows only last a single day, as opposed to the three-day extravaganzas that mark U.S. Pen Shows. I can definitely see the benefits of both approaches as the U.S. shows can overwhelm.

7. Traveler’s Company Stamp Caravan at Cityluxe (via Inkredible Colours). Each Stamp Caravan stop in a different city turns out a bit differently. Here’s the Singapore version.

8. Teranishi Guitar Smoky Navy (via Mountain of Ink). We love our Teranishi Inks, and one of the reasons they are such top sellers is what Kelli describes - they show sheen without the extreme smearing.

9. Writech Dual Color Multi Pens (Vintage Color Set) (via Well-Appointed Desk). Writech is one of those brands that’s been appearing more frequently in my feeds, and generally garnering good reviews. I need to try out some of their products.

10. Why Independent Penmakers Are Worth the Wait: Unboxing the Pens by Pasquale Merlin (via dwrdnet). It’s been a joy watching Nick grow as a penmaker over the past several years. I love this material and this specific shape. Nick regularly uses matte finishes as well.

View fullsize

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I focused a bit more on travel, including my first “bag dump” post of the year! I also published a companion YouTube video, for those who would like to watch the unpacking in real time. Yesterday I went “back to basics” with the “Ask TGS” series, hitting two frequently asked questions that have popped up recently regarding how vacuum filling systems are supposed to work, and how to set expectations regarding nib sizes given the inherent differences among regions and brands, as well as all the various factors that can affect how a fountain pen writes.

View fullsize

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop: More Maruman!

I’m almost finished with the “great unpacking,” having listed dozens of new products over the past couple of weeks as we add them both to the online shop and our shelves in the brick-and-mortar. I’ve been most excited about all the new Maruman Mnemosyne products, including the new Hardcover Journals (featuring a whopping 240 pages of heavier dot grid paper), the new Softcover Notebooks (a more traditional Mnemosyne A5 notebooks with standard lined paper), and these new 3-packs of A5 notepads. We also have new Nakabayashi Logical Air Paper (with a grid layout!), and the new Blackwing Volume 11 Bill Russell pencils, with matching notebooks. Be sure to keep an eye on each Thursday Drops post for a full list and description of new arrivals.

Uni Jetstreams

NJK Sharpeners

Blackwing

Maruman

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives and Sample Sales

If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and gently used stationery opportunities, consider supporting us via Patreon. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop either online (or in person, if you’re in the Nashville area)! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, the T.G.S. Patreon includes these as well as access to early shop releases, the quarterly gently used sales, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly Zoom meetups. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount.

No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

Sunday Reading for July 30, 2023

1. 2023 Pacific Northwest Pen Show - Recap and Report Card (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). For the first year of a pen show, I can only say that this one appears to have been a rousing success!

2. Journaling Series: Journaling to Clear Your Mind (via Writing at Large). I’ve been following this regular series on journaling techniques. It’s excellent if you’re looking to start journaling and need prompts and/or exercises to help you get started, or if you’re an experienced journaler who feels like the practice has gotten stale and needs a refresh.

3. 21+5 Pen Questions (via Weirdoforest Pens). Yay! My five extra pen questions have caught on!

4. 21 Pen Questions (via Rachel’s Reflections). Rachel takes her turn with the 21 Pen Questions.

5. #12PencilQuestions (via Well-Appointed Desk). Now we’re moving into the pencil world!

6. UNICEF Blue (via Line Variation). By far one of the more underrated “semi-standard” Montblanc Inks, UNICEF Blue is a gorgeous turquoise!

7. Dingbats Wildlife: Notebook Review (via Stationery Pizza). Dingbats notebooks don’t get the attention they deserve. The company markets itself as vegan and eco-friendly, and the paper in the two notebooks I have tried is very good.

8. On How I Did Not Buy a Meisterstuck 149 (via Fountain Pen Blog). I love these “in the wild” stories about hunting pens.

9. What’s My Hobonichi Done for Me Lately? (via mnmlscholar). I’m intrigued by the Hobonichi Day Free, and how people are using it.

10. Hamelin’s Intentions Clarified (via Pelikan’s Perch). I’ve been fairly quiet on the acquisition of Pelikan’s stationery business by Hamelin, a French stationery company, mainly because I don’t really understand all the “alarm.” While there’s always some uncertainty around acquisitions like this one, Pelikan has been bought and sold a few times over the years, and the latest go-round seems to be an instance of one large conglomerate selling the brand (or a part of the brand) to another large company. Joshua has a follow-up article that nicely summarizes the current status of the transaction.

View fullsize

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I wrote a post about one of my favorite “go-to” fountain pen friendly papers, French powerhouse Clairefontaine, and why it’s long been my default for everyday writing paper. It’s also time for Part II of my recent “Bag Dump” series, in advance of this week’s upcoming DC Pen Show.

View fullsize

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

It’s time for the mid-year stationery markets, both in-person and online, so you’ll be noticing several new arrivals hitting the store in addition to restocks on most of our existing lines. Big news from this week include the release of the TWSBI Sunset Yellow Diamond 580 AL fountain pen, which will ship Monday or Tuesday and is now available for purchase. We also received a huge shipment from Exaclair (distributor of Clairefontaine, Quo Vadis, Herbin, and Rhodia), as well as most Anderillium inks.

Hinze Pens

Clairefontaine

Midori

TWSBI

Pen Show Schedule for the Upcoming Month and Orders for Pen Show Delivery

This year in DC you can find me sharing table space with our friends at Vanness Pens. TGS won’t have a stand-alone table, but I’ll be bringing a handful of items with me, including Lochby cases and notebooks, washi tape, and whatever stock remains from the TGS-exclusive Penwells and Hinze Collaboration pens. While I plan to have a full table setup in San Francisco, I tend to use the D.C. Show to visit with people and scope out new releases. Note: If you have your eye on something from the shop and want me to bring it to the show for you to pick up, you can select “Local Pickup” at checkout to drop the shipping charge and send me a message to arrange for delivery. Just be mindful that I probably won’t be able to bring heavier orders (i.e. 5 or 6 notebooks) due to airline weight restrictions.

View fullsize

I’ll plan to bring some stamps that you can use to decorate your notebooks at the table!

Other Ways to Support T.G.S. and Gently Used Update!

Everything that didn’t sell to Patreon members, including some older limited edition Baron Fig items and notebooks, is now available for general purchase on the “Gently Used” page! If you’re interested in early access and a right of first refusal for the periodic sales, consider T.G.S. Patreon, which features not only access to meetups and the early gently used sales, but more exclusive content. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. In addition to purchases from The Curated Shop, Patreon allows us to continue to grow the site without relying on advertisements and affiliate marketing. If you’re interested in meetups and exclusive content, or simply supporting the site, we greatly appreciate your support!

Sunday Reading for June 4, 2023

1. Meet Your Maker: Jason Miller, Jason Neil Penworks (via Pen Addict - Caroline). I was lucky enough to score a table next to Jason Neil Penworks at this year’s Arkansas Show, and picked up a Tucker model in the Damascus material. Stay tuned!

2. The Life-Changing Magic of Keeping a File Index (via Analog Office). I’m trying to go paperless where the paper is essentially “junk paper,” but it’s hard as it seems to keep piling up. I saw this and could immediately relate.

3. Iroshizuku Syo-ro (via Fountain Pen Love). It’s always great to see the standard Iroshizuku ink lineup getting some love. Syo-ro is a gorgeous teal with a bit of red sheen.

4. Dominant Industry Tsavorite (via Mountain of Ink). Wow, jade/teal colors tend to be in fashion these days! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve almost picked up a bottle of this specific ink.

5. Ensso Italia Primary Manipulation IV Fountain Pen (via SBRE Brown). I’m glad to see more companies doing different pens in the various Primary Manipulation materials!

6. Benu Skull & Roses Crow Fountain Pen (via Well-Appointed Desk). I love this line from Benu and need to pick up one of the S&R models.

7. Sakae Tomoe River Notebook Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). The 68gsm version is an all-time favorite. I hope it doesn’t go away.

8. Sun’s Out: No Review (via A Fleeting Ripple). We were blessed with a gorgeous May featuring lower temperatures and lot’s of sun, but it looks like for us, the summer heat is here. That said, I’ve been doing a lot of writing on the porch!

9. Third Anniversary (via Inkredible Colours). Congratulations on this achievement! And it sounds like it was quite a year!

10. Dead Gel Refills (via Bleistift). Gel and rollerball refills tend to dry out and “die” at a higher rate than ballpoints, which can last for years. Use your gel pens!

11. Writing for Memory’s Sake (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Writing by hand is good for your memory, and not just because it memorializes things.

12. “Can I Keep This?” (via From the Pen Cup). If it’s an office-supply pen, sometimes I don’t even ask;)

View fullsize

In Case You Missed It…Reviews + Giveaway!

This week on the blog I reviewed a recent release from Tactile Turn: the “Deep Space” Seasonal Edition in the “Side Click” format. I won’t say that Tactile Turn has perfected the EDC click pen, but it’s close. As part of my ongoing efforts to update certain of the older content on this site, I’m not only revisiting brands I haven’t looked at in some time, but also pens like the excellent Pilot Custom 74 fountain pen - a longtime go-to recommendation here at T.G.S. and a pen that continues to be a relative bargain.

Finally, last night we announced a giveaway! Check out this Instagram post for a chance to win an original Walnut Penwell pen holder. Enter by liking the post on Instagram or leaving a comment on either this blog post or yesterday’s Custom 74 Review. The giveaway closes tomorrow at 11:59pm CT, and I’ll pick a winner by assigning a number to each entry and using a random number generator.

View fullsize

Last call for T.G.S. Penwells! We’re down to the last of this batch, and I don’t plan on doing another run for the time being due to a need to focus on other projects.

This Week in the Curated Shop: Last Call Warning!

In connection with the Penwell-themed giveaway: We are down to the last of the T.G.S.-exclusive Penwells in “Aged Red”. If you’d like to ensure you get one, please get your orders in this week. Depending on how many remain, I plan to pull some of the remaining stock for a special promotion we are doing in early July, in connection with our first exclusive fountain pen collaboration that we’ve been working on.

This past week we had restocks of the Caran d’Ache 849 + Paul Smith collaboration, which we are restocking as quickly as we can given how fast some colors sell out, along with the CdA Rollerball refills and certain popular colors of the various 849 models. We also received fresh shipments of Write Notepads Spiral Notebooks, new Jotters and Planners from WMS & Co., and Traveler’s Notebook refills and accessories.

Pilot Pens

WMS & Co.

TWSBI

Anterique

Consider Supporting Us Via T.G.S. Patreon!

T.G.S. Patreon is currently the only non-shop means of support for the site, and features not only access to meetups and early gently used sales, but more exclusive content. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. In addition to purchases from The Curated Shop, Patreon allows us to continue to grow the site without relying on advertisements and affiliate marketing. If you’re interested in meetups and exclusive content, or simply supporting the site, we greatly appreciate your support! Note that Patrons will have early access to our forthcoming special release that should be arriving either later this month or early July, including pre-order opportunities and possibly exclusive access to certain add-ons. June is a good time to join!

Sunday Reading for October 30, 2022

1. Sinclair Showdown: A Look at the New Sinclair Model R from Rickshaw Bagworks (via Chicana Writes). I fully agree that the Sinclair Model R builds on everything that made the original Sinclair three-pen case so enjoyable to use, with some nice new additions.

2. Vinta Inks The Awareness Project Collection (via Rants of the Archer). Vinta inks are among my favorites, and they’ve just released a new collection to raise awareness of endangered animals in the Philippines.

3. Joan Didion’s Notebooks (via Notebook Stories). Apparently Joan Didion was a fan of Clairefontaine notebooks, among other brands. There is an auction of her papers going on right now, apparently.

4. Magna Carta Emotions Power Fountain Pen Review (via SBRE Brown). Magna Carta pens have received a lot of attention, with their larger pens, some of which come with a No. 8 nib. I like the acrylic on this particular pen.

5. Laban Aphrodite Pink (via Mountain of Ink). Kelli is in the midst of reviewing the Laban “Greek Mythology” series, which is among my favorite recent discoveries. They are all nicely behaved and underrated inks, in my opinion.

6. Anderillium Cephalopod Ink Review. Yes, All of Them (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). While I love several of the inks in the Avian Series as well, as a whole the Cephalopod Series (based on squids and octopuses) is probably my favorite of the two.

7. Lennon Tool Bar Egret Paper (via Inkredible Colours). I’ve had a couple of requests for recommendations for more absorbent paper lately, and this option potentially looks interesting.

8. Wahoo! I Made It to Anniversary Two (via mnmlscholar). Congratulations on a two-year bloggiversary! I can attest that it’s far from easy!

9. Karas Pen Co. Decograph (via Left Hook Pens). The Decograph was Karas Pen Co.’s first foray into a more “traditional” pen style, and while initially acrylic-only, they’ve apparently released an aluminum model.

10. Giveaway: All Treats, No Tricks - TWSBI Cerulean Blue (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana and team are giving away a TWSBI Cerulean Blue in collaboration with the T.G.S. Curated Shop! Don’t miss the opportunity to win this pen and other great prizes. (Plus we have a ton of TWSBIs in stock right now, see below!)

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog was a relatively busy one, though I had a mid-week hiccup on scheduling due to a family funeral. In celebration of the re-release of the T.G.S. Exclusive Penwell in our unique “Aged Red” finish, I thought it might be fun/interesting to revisit my review of the original Penwell, which shockingly is five years old! I also wrote a piece about hacking stationery, and some tips and tricks to keep in mind if you’re inclined to modify pens, inks, and paper! (The post also includes some shots of my latest “experiment”.)

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

We had several new items hit the shop this week, including the arrival of the new TWSBI “Glow Purple”, which will begin shipping tomorrow on Halloween! Additionally, we now have Traveler’s Notebook 2023 Diaries in stock, a full restock of Hightide Sandglasses in the 30 and 15-minute intervals, and the arrival of Opus 88 fountain pens! We also previewed one of our 2023 Fountain Pen Day promotions, in which all purchases of a fountain pen from the T.G.S. Curated Shop will receive a complimentary ink sample, so you can get your new pen writing immediately.

Washi Tape

Opus 88

Penwell

Caran d’Ache

Finally, don’t forget to participate in this week’s giveaway, where you can win one of three bottles of Anderillium Ink! The giveaway ends tonight!

Many Thanks for Your Shop Support, and Please Consider T.G.S. Patreon!

We’ve been surprised at the level of enthusiasm and support for our curated retail strategy over the past couple of months, and after careful consideration are beginning to build out our inventory with more brands and product categories. I love managing this aspect of T.G.S., as it offers me the opportunity to directly put great stationery - including brands I feel are underappreciated and underemphasized - into your hands. For those who want to support T.G.S. without necessarily adding to their accumulation, the Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5, and plan on making monthly meetups, pen show events, and periodic exclusive content the primary benefits. Of course, Patreon members will continue to get first access to periodic sample sales, with right of first refusal on gently used pens. (Reminder that those pens which made it through Patreon are now available to the general readership!)

Sunday reading for March 14, 2021

1. A Lesson on Ink Hygiene (via Left Hook Pens).. I’ve generally had great luck in avoiding moldy ink and SITB (“Slime in the Bottle”) issues, though I typically do pay careful attention when flushing and cleaning pens to ensure inks from one bottle can’t cross-contaminate another. Some great advice here.

2. Vintage Writing Paper and the Consumption of Pen Stuff (via The Poor Penman). A generally great reminder to actually use your pens and stationery, to be sure and patronize small stationery businesses to ensure they can actually stay in business, and to go buy some of Ana’s typewriter paper before it goes away forever.

3. Parker 51 (2021 Edition) (via SBRE Brown). Stephen reviews the Parker 51 re-release, with the gold nib, and he received a very nice writer. A well-rounded review.

4. Doms Fusion Pencil (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). I love any rounded triangular pencil with a fairly dark core, and these look like they fit the bill.

5. PenBBS 224 Tolstoy (via Mountain of Ink). I have to admit, there aren’t many new inks that catch my eye these days - I think I’m just overwhelmed with the flood of new releases - but this shade of green from PenBBS really fits my aesthetic.

6. Pont Neuf Notebooks (via Pencilcase Blog). Pont Neuf is the companion brand to Kunisawa, a high-end Japanese stationery company with a luxury business aesthetic. I reviewed Kunisawa a couple of years ago and am glad to see that they have incorporated new, ultra-fountain pen friendly paper into their products.

7. Pilot G2 Limited Metallic Body (via Pen Addict). The G2 always gets trashed by stationery snobs, but there’s a reason it’s so popular. The “Limited” barrel available directly from Pilot is an excellent upgrade over the standard plastic, and I carry a G2 Limited in my briefcase at all times.

8. My Artsy Pens (via My Pen Needs Ink). I don’t use a lot of markers, nor do you see many marker reviews. Bob looks at a few options here, and talks about how he incorporates them into practical list-making.

9. How a Pelikan Found Her Song: Center Stage with the Rare and Exotic Music Nib (via Pelikan’s Perch). Wow, this was a find. There’s also some great bits of history on three-tine music nibs and how they originally were used.

10. Video Review: Pilot Custom 823 (via Scrively). I have a Smoke 823 on order from Appelboom, to match my Amber version. The Pilot Custom 823 is truly one of a handful that could be “desert island” pens for me.

In Case You Missed It…

I’m on vacation for this coming week! That means posting will likely be sporadic, but you know, sometimes I have to escape from my family for an hour or two and I may get something up. This past week, I posted one piece, which is the starting point for what I intend to be a comprehensive paper resource for the site. I’m looking for additional recommendations (especially for “Tier 1”), and I am in the process of placing orders for papers that I’d like to sample.

New This Week in the Curated Shop

This week I received a restock of Midori MD “B” pencils, as well as the gorgeous TRC Brass Rulers. I also now stock the Write Notepads special edition “Engineer Paper”, in both notebooks and memo pad format. Note that since I’m on vacation this week, shipments may be delayed until my return. Sometimes we do have help shipping out orders, but it’s sporadic.

TRC Brass

Penco

Midori

Write Notepads

Sponsorship Changes - Consider Joining T.G.S. Patreon!

You may have noticed that over the past several months, I’ve been allowing paid sponsorships to lapse and relying on direct support from readers and visitors, either in the form of Patreon pledges or Curated Shop Purchases. I plan to continue this trend in 2021, with the goal of T.G.S. being completely self-sustaining by the end of the year. While I will continue to collaborate and work with select partners, I do not wish to rely on paid advertising going forward, with the possible exception of smaller brands and makers who you may see on my sidebar from time to time.

You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. I will be rolling out some new content in 2021 that will be exclusive to Patreon subscribers, including monthly online meetups, and the eventual return of the “Digital Divide” newsletter (you can read back content here). I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items, to which Patrons will have first access.